Friends and family are gathering this week to celebrate the life of former Monroe County Executive Tom Frey.
The gathering at St. Michael’s Church in Rochester on Friday evening will be a chance for Frey to chat with some of the many political, business and community leaders as well as a variety of other people he’s dealt with over the years.
Frey, a Democrat, served as County Executive for one term in the late 80s and early 90s, and he’s also a former NYS Assemblyman.
Frey is doing some reflecting about his life these days after learning recently his cancer had spread. He isn’t bitter about it, but he does want to spend some of his remaining time with the people he’s had the good fortune to meet over the years.
“It’s very nice have somebody come up to me who I haven’t seen in 8 or 10 years and all of a sudden get in a nice, positive conversation,” Frey told WXXI News.
Frey is bothered by the level of acrimony in politics these days, but he’s not cynical and believes that people who want to make a difference should still get involved in the process. Frey says among the things he’s done that he’s most proud of in the Rochester community, is the development of the El Camino recreational trail in northeast Rochester.
Mayor Lovely Warren and others in city government have been working to improve the North Clinton Avenue area, and Frey says he sees some hopeful signs.
“The encouraging thing is there are a lot of people from the neighborhood who’ve been very helpful, and come forward as citizens and cared about what they’re doing.”
The event at St. Michael’s Church parish hall, behind 869 North Clinton Avenue in Rochester on Friday, runs from 5 to 7pm on Friday. -The event is hosted by Genesee Land Trust, Project HOPE and ConkeyCruisers.
